Telescoping umbrella



BEST AVNLABLE CGPY J. W. CHISM TELESCOPING UMBRELLA Filed Feb. 2, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 (June ntoz BEST AVMLABLE COP'X J. W. CHISM TELESGOPING UMBRELLA 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 2

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.II I! ll! ll!!! ///l l (I/Illl!!llllllllll(llllll I/IllI/llllI/II raw 4 VIIIllllllll'll/lllllll/ll/l/llllllll/ll/llm 4 3 2 8 E T 5 N 3 7 4 9 w a w M 2 7 V ,1 1 ll \11 y a d 0 r0 Z 6 WW W 6 H 0 M 6 I M 9 vwentov James 09/3/11 of? II? [07 42 43 m 104 f SEST AVAILABLE COPY J. W. CHISM TELESCOPING UMBRELLA Filed Feb. 2, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 anucnfoz- BEST AVNLABLE COPY J. W. CHISM TELBS COPING UMBRELLA Filed Feb. 2,1925 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 service when 0 BEST AVAILABLE COPY Patented July 13, 1926.

UNETE stares 31mins w. crust/r, or soHEnEc'rAnY, NEW roan.

' TELESCOPING UMBRELLA.

Applicationjiled February 2, 1923. Serial No. 616,558.

This invention relates to telescoping umbrellas and proposes the construction of an umbrella in which the fabric cover is stretched over and attached to telescopic ribs supported by a telescopic staff, the whole being contained, when-closed, within a handle which may or may not be telescopic according to modified forms'of the invention.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision'of an umbrellathat may be carried in an ordinary novelty -bag,thatis compact and-of pleasing appearance when closed, that maybe easily and quickly Opened and that 'is thoroughly reliable both in operation and 1 Another object of the invention isjthe provision of a telescopic umbrella, contained when closed within a telescopic handle,-the latter being extensible toitsmaximum capacity, through the closing movement of the umbrella and functioning as a casing therefor, and automatically telescoping to its minimum length, to serve merely as ahandle when the umbrella is open.

Another object of the invention is the'construction of an umbrella having collapsible sectional ribs and a telescopic sectional stall, saidribs and staff beingv arranged to be brought into parallelism by a closing movement of the umbrella and simultaneously shortened by pressure in a direction axially of the staff, causing the sections of said staff and ribs to slide relatively over one another into a casing secured to the lower end of the staff, further pressure in an axial direction ausingthe lower end of the staff to co-act with the end of said casing extendingtlie sec-- tions thereof to increase the capacity of said casing sufliciently to embrace the umbrella.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of-novel means for automatically locking the ribs against collapse when fully extended and for permitting them to telescope when a predetermined stage of the closing movement of the umbrella has been reached.

Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a telescopic stail with relatively fixed rib attaching ferrule and a slidable rib engaging runner mounted thereupon, and means associated with said staff for retaini ng the runner in the open or closed position of the umbrella, said means being selectively rendered operative, or released, by a part movable with and relatively to said sliding runner through pressure applied axially to said part in the act of opening or closing the umbrella.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hollowstalf provided with resilient latching members secured therein and normally projecting therefrom, said resilient latching members being formedwith portions contacting the opposite wall from that to which said stop members are secured, and a reciprocable key'for depressing certain ofsaid latching members provided with a longitudinal slot embracing said contacting portions and affording themlateral'support throughout the range of. movement of said key. F

A still further object of theinvention resides in the provision of suitable locks for holding or releasing the staif when in its outermost positionrelative to the handle, and for locking the section'sv offthe handle casing in collapsed position, said locking means functioning automatically when" the umbrella is spread or closed; a 4

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the improved telescoping umbrella illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and particularly claimed,

and in such- Variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in .the art to which my invention relates. In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, and wherein the preferred embodiment of myinvention is illustrated 1 Figure 1 is z t-longitudinal section of the umbrella showing the parts in the position assumed when'the umbrella is opened.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing the umbrella closed.

-Figure 3 is sectional view of the lower portion of Figure 3. on an enlarged scale.

Figure dis a cross section taken along the line l-4= of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the case lock catches.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the case lock catch frame.

Figure 7 is a section of the rib lock taken along the line 77 of Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the rib lock in locked position.

Figure 9 is a section of the rib lock taken along the line 99 of Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the rib lock in released position.

Figure 11 is an exploded perspectiveview of the rib lock and its associated parts.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the stafi and rib taken along the line 1 212 0f Eig ure 2.

Figure 13 is a section of the sliding-run ner and rib retainer showing the's'prin g depressed. 4

Figure 14 is a similar View to Figure 13 Figure 17- is-a vperspective View ofthe r'ib attaching ferrule;

-. 1 Referring now in detail to. the several figures, the numerals 1 and2 represent respectively 1 the telescopic sections of the case, forming thehandlel of th'e.umbrella,-3. and 4 designating the-telescoping sections of the staff. These parts will-be described in great-v er: detail; as the. specification .develops. To the upper-cendzof-the stafl' section ithe rib. attaching iferrlule 5; is secured; by means of the rivet-6 which passes through aligned apertures in said'ierrule and staff section. This ferrule is of the construction usually found in umbrellas, comprising'a flange furnished with ay'plurality .of radial notches 7 equal in number to the number of ribs of the umbrella anda circumferential groove 8 intersecting-the ends of said: notches. The ends of the ribs 'of the umbrella are arranged in the 'radial slots and secured-in place by a w'ire'91passing through apertures in said ends and seated in the circumferential groove.

Each of the ribs consists of a pair of 00-. operating and telescoping sectionslO and 11. The shape of thesection 10 is best. shown; in Figure 11, it being. formed of anovally bent metallic strip provided on its lower side with a longitudinal slot 12. A reinforcing piece 13 of similar shape to thatof-the rib section 10-but sufliciently smallto enter the latter, is inserted in the outer endthereof, the under side of said reinforcing piece be ing formed with a cut-away portion 14 having end walls 15- and 16,. The upper end of the reinforcing piece 13 is internally beveled as shown at 17 in. Figure 10 to ensure smoothness-0f operation. v

The rib section 11 takes the form of arod having the shape shown in Figure 11. comprising bead 18 of a shape and size to smoothly 'slide within the bore of the rib section 10. having'a web 19, slidable longitudinally in theslot 12 in the upper rib section, and arranged with a curve flange 29 adapted to slidably engage the outer surface of said ribsectionadjacent the sidesof the slot 12. These-parts areshown in extended position in Figure 1, and when the umbrella BEST AVAILABLE COPY "til the upperend thereof assumes a position adjacent the rib attaching ferrule 5, the effective length of the umbrella rib thus b reduced substantially one-half.

A flexible fabric cover, indicated in Fig. 1 b .-'-;-dot and dash lines, and in Fig. 2 in :folded condition as indicated by the referencecharacter 118, of usual construction adapted to be supported by the ribs of the umbrella and extends'ovcr the ferrule 5, a leather washer 21- interyening between said ferrule andgthe fabric cover for the protection ot' thelatter. A metal washer 2'3 resides. upon the fabric cover above the washer 21 and the upper end of the staff sectionyt extends through said washer-a slight H d sta c e, ext nd ng en being le gi udina y p it-at a umber a P aces for n lugs-.23. W C i-Iare turned down over the washer 22 holding the latter and thefabric e -c amped agai t-th r a a hing f rule 5. Theribisection 1Q isprovided with a loop 24 to whiclrthe fabric co rer is sccured and the rib section 11 is formed with an aperture 25 and a ring 26 towhich also the cover is attached. Thering .26 is split,

the ends thereof resting- .in the grooves formed ontheopposite-sides of the web 1 9 by the bead-18 and flange 20 so that the ring is adapted to slide outwardly within said-groove as itabuts against the lower end of the rib section 10 when said rib sections are-telescoped. hen the umbrella is opened, asfshown in Figure 1, the cover exerts a tension upon the ribs which would cause the sections thereof to telescope in the absence ,oit appropriate locking means for securing them in extended ppsition; One form of locking. means which may be employed for this purpose is shown in detail in Figures 7, 8, 9, 1O and 11 and, consists of .a clip 27 which is secured by welding or otherwise, at the upper. end of the rib sec tion 11, to. the .under face thereof. This clip is formed with an inclined resilient portion 28 which bends inwardly toward the rib section 10 as shown at 29 and is formed on the end of the bent portion with a head 30, adapted to play within the cub-away portion 14 of: the reinforcing piece 1?. The sides of the clip 27 are turned up to form flanges. 31. on opposite sides thereof, said flanges being apertured. as at 32. A brace 33 is furnished for each rib, one end of which is hingedly secured to a runner 34, theother end being apertured and pivotally secured to the clip 2Tbyineans of apin 35 passing through the aligned apertures in said end and in the flanges31. The brace is formed with a slot 36 having an end wall37, said slot being of such length that when thebrace the reinforcing'piece 13' so as to clear the end walls 155 and 16'of'the latter and to be freely slidablewitliin the bore of the reinforcing piece andtherihsection; Asa-sen is 'secured to the -rib"sec'tion 11, depression of the head 3O i'n, the" manner -,described; permits the 'ri-bsecticn 11 td-slide upwardly along the rib section 10 'towardthe rib "at taching ferrule 5. I g

"llhenthebrace '33 is out of parallelism withthe'rilisection 11 in thcp'o'sition shown in Figure -1,- the end wall 37 is out of contact with "the resilient portion 28 and the head aornormall lies in the plane of the end walls l5 and 16 of the-cutaway portion 14 preventingmaterial endwise movement of the ribseetion '11 relative to the rib section 10. Thehead fSO is, however, made of sub stantiallyf 'snialler' "dimensions than the cutaway portiea'ira to allowfor'distortion ot the parts oftheumbrella and for structural imperfections inits 'manufacture and a5;- sem'blyk When the umbrella is closed the clip Q K'liesadjac'ent the rib attaching ferrule 5, the latter being made suiiiciently lar e to permit the ribs to be folded over said clips'at the-ferrule.

The staff sections 3 and 4 are hollow, the lower staff section being contracted in diameter at its-upper endas shown at'38 in Figure F1, through which" contracted portion passesthe upper staff section"4, the latter beingprovided -a't its lOW8I 'e11d with an expanded portion "39 fitting the bore off-that part'of the lowerfstaff-fs'ection of largerdiam'eter: "That part of the's'tafi' section 4 which lies within-the contracted port-ion 38 of the stat? section 3 isalso' slightly: expanded, m'aking a tight 'fit' within said contractedportion.- l This Construction provides a-rigi'd jointbetwetenf'the two staff sections when extended and the abutting shoulders 40 formed ="between 'the parts "of diii'erent diameters prevents the staff sec tions from being pulled apart in the opening movem'enflof the umbrella. The expanded portion' -39' of the upper stafi' section '4 is bifurcated for a portion of its length for the purpose of straddling the spring catch 41 which is located within the lower-end of the-"staff section '3 and the function'- otwhich will-"bepresently explained. The-depending side portions 42, formed by this bifurcation are adapted to engage the plate-43, which forms part'of the stall lock in order to release the latter.

. staff seciions be relatively 'slightly twisted- Thedepending side portions are shaped intog'points so that should the upper and lower said depending side portionswill not catch BEST AVAILABLE COPY upon 'the'spring catch 41, but will slide by th sameyrestoring" said staff sections to their original relative postwar I The spring catch 41- is secured within the stafi'section 3 by means of'a, projection 44 passing through anaperture in the "wall of said staff section. 'Said spring catch has a back support 45 .resting against the opposite wall of thesta-if section and the head of saidnspring catch normally projects from a slot 46 preferably in longitudinal align inent with the projection 44.' This spring catch is for the purpose of latching the runner 34 when the umbrella is closed. "A spring catch. 47, which is slightly different in shapeg'but wsimilar to the spring catch 41 in its structural features is secured within the staff section 4, the head of said spring catch projecting through a slot in said staff section which is in alignment with the slot This spring catch latchesthe. runner in the openposition of the umbrella. The runner is secured to a quill 48 which is of s'uiiicient length to have a substantial bearing surface upon the stafli and of sulficient width to permitit to slide freely upon the larger portion of the sta'fi" section 3. Said quill is formed, intermediate its ends with a pair of oppositely located slots 49 and 50, said slots extending circumferentially through a wide angle, leaving between them a rib of metal 51 wide enough to afford proper support for the two ends of the quill 48. Slidably mounted upon said quill beneath the runner 34 is a sleeve 52 having-an expanded central portion-53 which is adapted to bridge the'slots 49 and without depressing whichever 'of the spring'catch 41 or 47 may be projecting therethrough. Above and below said ex panded portion the sleeve is contracted in such a manner that'when either of the con tracted portions is moved across the Zone of the slots 49 and 50, whichever stop member is projecting through said slots will he depressed flush with the surface of the staff. Said sleeve, then, is for the purpose of releasing therunncr 34 from either its upper or lower latched positions. Said sleeve is formed witha'transversely extending flange 54turned' up at the edge toprovide a rib. retainer for surroundhigthe balls 55 at the ends of the 'ribs. retaining tlie latter compactly together when the umbrella is closed.

A pair of spring stops 56,21nd 57 are sccured within the upper staff section 4 in a manner similar to that of the spring catches previously described, the former of said spring catches projecting through a slot 58 in the wall of said upper staff section and forming a shoulder against which the upper end of the quill 48 is adapted to abut, thus aiiordinga stop for limiting the upward movement ofthe'runner 34 beyond its nor ice mally open latched position. The: spring stop 57- p rojec ts through a slot 59,'adjace'nt the lower 'endJof-the upper, stafi section and functions to latch the two stafi sections in their entended position. The object otrn'akiis' h S e 5 es li new (if i h f r as pr t is m P mi s withdrawal -within. "the staff section, toperniit the latter to-sliid within the lower staff section.I It isessential also in clqsing the umbrella ,'that' the spring step 57 which holds the staff sections :ag'am stf collapse be withdrawn; For. simultaneously eiiecting the depression of both these spring stops I havefprovidedreleasin'g .nieans which ina th Present s a ts semenee a't b' a key ."i$ Q-t d lengitud m y a n its b ack portio nas sho wnat 61 for the purpose of affording lateral support to the backends oi'thefspi'ing stops4175i 6 and 57 which rest against the rear wall of the upper staff secties; The side ofsaid key-opposite saidalcns gitndinalslotis formedwith a pair of slots 6 2 andff63 the-wallslqf which are adapted w nners-.1 ;t nsed ana a of h -1 P- per afi 'se iee a esase th l n edges of he r n s ore 56, d p ssive a pr ng s below tbs i fa of s id s a swim The, k y; -69: is als p e i d w Slotsi65l and 65 which-allowsaid key to pass h b -e sn art t d spr t p 5, andbi; and with a relatively-long slot 66 which prevents the movement of the key A from interfering in any way with the position of. the spring stop 1:7. The reciprocatory movement of said hey is limited by the length vof oppositely arranged slots 67 through which'the rivet 6 passes. The up: per end of the key. projects from the outer end of the upper staff section and is secured in any suitable manner to a manually operable knob 68 which is manipulated in the opening and closing operation 01"; the umbrella. In the present instance a stud 69 having a threaded outer end is riveted in the end of the key 60, said outer end being screwed to a boss 70- on the inner side of the knob 68. Said knob is otherwise hollow, and when in its depressed position-encloses the washer 22 andthe outer end of the upper stafi section in a weather-tight manner. The peripheral flange 71 of said-knob makes close contact with the fabric cover of the umbrella, when the latter is spread, excluding moisture from the mechanism associated with the top of the staff. Engagement of said flange with the ribs, in the spread position of the umbrella, prevents accidental depression of the key to which would-permit collapse ,of the umbrella.

The case sections 1 and 2 telescope one within the other, the upper case section being contracted atv its lower end forming a shoulder 72. The lower case section 2 is. f d at s append i pm 73 of SEST AVAILABLE COPY larger diameter which abuts against the shoulder 72 when the casesections are extended preventing them being drawn apart when the umbrella is closed. The upper of the outer case section is provided witha flared outwardly rolled flange 7 4; which pre sentsa funnel shaped opening for the easy entrance of the fabnic of the umbrella and also aiiords a smooth sur-face which avoids injury to other articles with which the-fold ed umbrella may be packed; Said outer sec} tion is preferably formed of metal but may. if desired be of non-metallic material and finished in any desired manner to efl'ect the ornamentation to the umbrella. When the latter is opened the outer case section 1 forms the handle of theumbrella.

The inner case section 2 is provided near its upper end with a peripheral groove? 5 having beveled sides 76 and T7, theend ofsaid-case section above said groove, being reduced in internal diameter. and curved into an outwardly flaring lip, through which the folded cover of the umbrella may enter without impediment. The tapered walls of the groove are designed to cooperate with a staff lock on the lowerend oj-the lower staff. section 3 byineansotwhich the latter is retained in the upper end of the case seca tion 2 in the extended position of the rimbrella.

The lower end of the stafi section 3, is Surrounded by a quill 7 8 which tightly fits said stafisection and is formed with a reduced-upper end 'Z9jafiording a seat for the s fl trams w ch. i l d a a nu- 1& hub 8l having three or more inclined arms 82 extending therefrom at spaced intervals, each of arms being formed-with a thin resilient portion 83 and an integral rigid-portion 84 having a beveled projection 85 capable in certain positions of the staii of spreading, through the resiliency of the portion 83 and seatinglitself in the groove 75 in the inner case section. The lower.por-, tion 86 of each. arm are formedto extend radially toward the axis of the staff, the ends thereof being beveled as shown at 87 inFigure 3.

The quill 78 is, in turn, surrounded by a sliding sleeve 88, the cylindrical wall 89 of which is spaced from the quillZS, and atfords a chamber surroundingsaidquill in which is located the helical spring 90. Said spring bears at one end against the top. flange of the sleeve 88, and at its lower end against a ring 91 which is located upon a reduced portion 92 of said quill and retained in place by a flange 93, the latter being formed by riveting the lower edge of the reducedportion 92 over said ring.

The lower end of the cylindrical portion 89 of the sleeve 88 is formed with a wedge portion which has two degrees of taper, a very steep taper 95 and a gradual-taper 96.

The surface of said wedge portion may be continuous but the sleeve is here shown as split longitudinally so .as to provide a certain'but very slight degree of resiliency. in the parts to compensate for any lack of trueness in size or fit of the cooperating elements. Aperipheral groove 97 is formed within the lower end of the cylindrical portion of the sleeve8 8 in which issprung or otherwise seated the plate 13 against which the lower end of-the upper staff section .4; abuts as .has hereinbefore been described-l;

When the staff ofthe umbrella is drawn outwardly in the act .of -.-rai si ng itjthe frame travels with itnntilithe upper end of the inner .case. section 2 is reached at ,which point; theprojections5 of the arms 82 spring .into. the. peripheral. groove 75. This permits the tapered portion of the-isleeve 881.110 enterathe, space betweenthe ring 91 and; the; ends 87 of said .arn1s,sai d tapered portionn being ;i1npe lled by the expansion of the helical spring .90 firmly forcing the projections into, .contactwith thetapercd walls '76 and 'ilofthe groove 7.5 and'holding the staff .in rigid position-:relatively to the inner gcase; section 2. ..'Eurther outward pull upon the staff causes saidinner case section to travel outwardly. with said staff telescoping it within the outer case section 1.

-The inner case section 2 18 provided adjacent its outer end'witlr an annular reinforcing plate 98 having slots 99 formed on opposite sides thereof and registering with slots 100 formed in the wallet the inner casesection. Said reinforcing plate is also provided at its lower edgewith depressions 101. These depressions afi'ordseats for the extended edges 102 of thecase lock frame 103, the latter being a plate preferablyslightly convexed on its lower. side and having adjacent each endpairs of upstanding lugs 104 provided with the aligned apertures 105. These apertures are for the purpose of pivotally mounting the catches 106 which have pairs. of depending .lugs 107 hingedly cooperating with :the pairs of lugs 104. .-Each of said catchesis also provided with a nose 108 which is adapted to be projected throughone of the openings formed by the aligned slots 99 and 100 in the inner case sectlOn. Said catches are .each provided with a back plate 109 and are preferably formed with downturned flanges 110 which engage with a leaf spring 111 seated within the case lock frame 103. Said spring normally urging the noses 108 ofthe catches outwardly to a position in which they project slightly beyond the vwall of the inner case section. When said inner case section is drawn inwardly by pulling upon the staff of the umbrella after the staff lock engages the groove 75 the projecting noses of said catches are depressed by contact with the largest 91 ih-9l i9 .1 nd

3EST AVAlLABLE COPY immediately spring over the shoulder 7 2 formed within the lower end of the outer case section firmly and positively locking said case-sections in fully telescoped relation. YVhen -in this position-saidcase sections serve as a handle for the umbrella the latter then being open. I 1

' in the lowering of the umbrella the inward. thrustof the staflf .first forces the wedge shaped portion.96 of the staif lock outwardly against the tension ofvthe spring from-.-between the ends of thearms 82 and the ring .91 permitting the projections 85 of said arms to. ride ,over the'inclined wall 76 of the. groove 75 so that the lowerupon further. pressure on the stalf.,; .lVhen 1 the staff is at the limit of its-downward movement within the, lowercase section the steeply tapered surfaces .95 of said wedge shapedportions forcibly engage the ends of the arms v82 spreading themgagainst the inner wall of the inner case section with sufficient force so that they will surely enter slot- 75 when'brought opposite to it, but at the same time will slide within the case without undue friction or distortion of the case; also, the action of the steep-taper reversibly permitting the arms 82 to move back nearer the staff to ride over any inequalities in the case.

The lower end of the case section 2 is closed by a cap 112 which may be secured thereto in any desired way but is here shown as being formed with a flange 113 having cut away portions 114' forming oneelement of abreech block arrangement. The reinforcing plate 98 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 115 which is furnishe-zl with arcuate projecting portions 116 the latter being adapted to register with the cut-away portions 113 of the cap flange. 3

The upper shoulder of the flange 1150f the reinforcing plate lies in an inclined plane forming a shoulder slightly spaced apart from the bottom end of the inner-case section 2. When the complementary breech hlock parts of the cap and flange 115 are placed into registration the'cap is given a partial turn causing it to tighten against the lower edge of the flange 115by virtue of said inclined shoulder. f

In the operation of the umbrella the jouter section of the case is grasped with one hand while. the other hand engages the cap .68 on the outer end of the staff. The latter is drawn outwardly unt l the ribse tl fa ric have ena-er'gedehtiieiy tree the chse and the Rick has bec oi ne firmly seated in the *perip' feral groove 7 5; The hand "Which rriinipiilated the khob 68 new eilgl'ges'the filt-retfiine'r fi l' di'avir'injg it"b aek sil'fliciently 6 "i'e-lehe tlieribsj The fhlils'of the "fabric cover arethen shaken oii't if necessary a'iid 't'he rib retainer pushed forwardly with t-l'ieslete 53 i'ndrii'nner 34 along the staff ifsftfai' (is it will go. Tliis completes the epenihgoperation The mechanical operat i'en "dni'ir'ig' the opening movement of the iihibieila is 'tis follows; NVhen the cap 68 isdfewn'oiitfwithithe attached key 60 the springetbps 5'3 and 57 are released so that the former ivill hein position to serve as a etoii' to =1'i'nii't the forwiird movement of theriihnereiid'fthat the latter ma spring biieff'the'edge dr j't'he' staff section 3 t6 "prvei it'jelescepingfot the staff. Next t l Whefithfehdh of the slots '67 come into cei'ittiet' 'iw's ith the pin 6o,-liiniting the relariive'rfievmentbetween'the key and the upper "stafi' "seetidn, further movement of said hey hring'sfiwi'th it the upper stafi seetiin'i 'wi'ththe rib ettaehing ferrule 5 and thefihsfetionslmtliils Withdrawing the latter frem theirte'le'scoped relation to the rib sections 11. *It'v'vi'll be finders'toodthat at thistline' thetibsef the iirnbrellav lie substantizilly' pawn-Q1 to the staff. Relative eX- te'nfin (if thefrib seetibns "causes the "fabric cover to nnfold asjit iswithdrawn from the case. The oiiter section of the ease now s'lidesoi e'r the inner section nntil stopped by the projecting flange 1 13 of'the cap 112 abutting against the loiver end of the 'outer ca'se Section. When the sta'fi'and ribs are nearly extended the tension of the cover :ijcti'ng through the rib sections 11, braces 33, ri'inne'r 34 and spring 47, ee'ts the lower stz'ifi section 3 and staff lock in motion therehyie'leasi'ng the case ldek catches which project through the slots 99 and 100 'and se'it themselves on 'the Shoulder ,72 holding the'ca'se Sections in clo'sed "position. ,Conti'n'i'ied chewin out of the cap and staff brihgs the' projections on the arms 82 of the staff lock opposite the peripheral grooi e 75, the helical spring 90 acting through the wedged shaped portions of the sleeve 88 to force said projections into the groove where they seat firmly on the tapered sides of the -groove thus loekingthe stafl securely in the handle. The staff is now brought to the limit of its extension permitting the spring stop 57 to project past the end ofithe lower stafi' section 3 to prevent the staff-iron) closing.

At this time the head 30 of the clip 27 is qppesite -the; cnter of the slot 14: in the rinforei-ng piece 13 and. pressing back the rih retainer allows therihs' to open out a shfit distance from "the staff, permitting metre-ad eeef the clip-27 to settle into en BEST AVAlLABLE com I the stefl' 'aetiiig throngh the bi-hoes "33 to spread out the ribs endht'teched iizibii cover in the usual manner. lmie'ntherib s are s'n'flieientiy spr'ead the "qil'ill 48 heal-mg the runner {domes into eont'act with the stop 56 preventing fiirthe'i ni'otio'n, and the spring eiteh 47 enters "the opening "in the quill 48, th er eby holding the runner-=34 in raised oslitio'n and the i-ibs 'o'nt' In closing the hinhi'elhi, the hiihd'le is g'res'ped'with one hind andthe-rib'ret M iith the other,' "the la ttei heiligd do'wh witlfthe's'keVetihd 'riiiiherfnhtih rib's' ere e'oihpletely twee-d and the spring 1' 41 'siihp's into plzi'c'e holding the-run- 'dotvz r. the vc'o't 'er is wet, ;the uni- 'lit s'houldnot ele'sed 'fnrther than this hilt 'shh'dld be carried es in ordinhiy umbrellahntil"dry. When 'dry the eldsih g proces's is 'eontinifedas follows. Vitli one hand iillbf 'the-ribsfziie pressed el'oseto the s'ta-fi' andtvith "the other liiliid the rib retainer is slippee oi' er'the balls on the ends of the ribs. The cip 68 is'tlie'ii "de'l'n 'ised until the ii'hs have ednipletely tele'scop'ed and the fi'hhiennd (iov'er his' commended to efifei tlietftfi. The =fo1ds "of the fxhri ire then-arranged if necessary and p'r'e'ssnre on the "cap '68 eontlniied until the frame (ind cover are entirely enclosed within the case and the (35p 68 Closes the end ofth'e outer cases-email 1. The mechanical tetion' of the umbrella during the closing" increment is es follows: Drawing dbwn the rib reteinei' 54 with 'thezittafched sleeve has depressed the spring czitch 1&7 thereb" permitting the quill runner to be drawn-down the and acting thro gh the braces 33 to cose the ribs in the hs'na'hmanne'r; When the quill 8 passes" over the spring- Cilt'll 41 it depressesthe mien-bet vhe'n the ribs are up roximately par-allele) the-staff said spring Catch snaps into'o'ne of the "opening's'in the quill and halts it and the 'rrinner dotvn. When ther'ibs areheld c'lo'se 'tothe the end 37 ef the slot 36 presses i'i'ponthie rel iilient portion 28 of the clip 27 sot'h-at the head 30 of said clip is raised out of the plane ofthe were 15 the 1'6 ofthe slot that the rib section 11 it free to slide longitudr na'lly with-respect to-th'e rib section 10'.

Pressure on the c'a pf68 nioves the key 60 down within then'pp'e'rseetionfthereby depressingthe springfs'topsfifi and 57 helor' the srirfl'e e of eai'd staff section, permitting the latter "t6 slide Within the lower 's'tafi'eection 3. The pufif dse 0f depressing the spring 56 has already been ekpleinedp til pressure causes the latter to slide within the lower staff section and at the same time causes the rib sections 11' to telescope over the rib sections 10, thus shortening the timbreila. When the telescoping of the ribs is nearly complete the outer ends of the rib sections 10, come into contact with the split rings 26 and forces them along through the grooves in the rib sections 11 toward the outer ends of said rib sections sothat when the operation is' complete the folding of the fabric cover is as shown at 118 in Figure 2. Continued pressure on the cap 68 brings-the lower end of the upper staii section into contact with plate 43 and acting through said plate and the sleeve 88 compresses the helical spring 190 forcing down' the wedge'sliaped portions of s'aid sleeve, permittingthe projections "to rid e out of the peripheral groove 75" a-nd so to release, the stall: lock causing the entireframe to move within the innerjcasef'jsectionj 2. When the spring 90 is sufiiciently -coinpressed to release the staff lock, thefribj'attacliing sleeve 5 restson the upper endiof ,the lower stali' section, thus relieyingjlie spring,' the plate 43 aud'the sleeve 88' of any "furtherfstrain.

When the j 'wfedge' shaped portion V of the sleeve 88 approaches 'the'flower end of the inner case section 'it'comes in contact with the catches of the case lock and by compressing theispring 111 draws said catches out from their seat on the shoulder 72-thus releasing the case lock and permitting'the inner and outer case sections to, slide one without theother, extendingthe case to its full length, permitting the'entire frame, and cover ot-the umbrella to enter thejcase the upper endof the outer case section being closed by the flange 71 of the cap 68 as-is clearly shown in Figure 2. This completes the operation of closing. It will be observed that the cover was first forced into one of the case sections and then into the other as a sequential operation, thus requiring only about one-half as much strain on the cover and parts as would be required to force the cover into a one-piece case of the same 'dimensions.

It is, however, within the scope of the invention to substitute a one-piece case for the telescopic sectional case herein described, said substitution effecting a simplification in the mechanism by omitting the elements of the case lock and the case parts with which it cooperates. It would of course be obviously impossible to make a one-piece case as short as a two-piece casing which in most instances might militate against its appearance as a handle and render it somewhat inconvenient to pack or carry.

While I have above described what I have found to be a very practical embodi meat of my invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that the telescopic umbrella BEST AVAlLABLE COP may also he exemplified in numerous other alternative constructions and I accordingly i'eserv'e'the right of adoptin all such legitimate changes as may beiairly embodied within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.- 1

Paving described my invention what I claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is i f 1. A telescopic umbrella comprising a handle formed of sections slidable one with-' in the other, a 'sta'tl' comprising telescopic sectionsslidahl'e within said handle, cooperating means on one of said staff-sections and the inner handle section for latching' said in the upper end of said handle section, and means Carried by the inner end of the other of said staff sections for releasing said latching means to permit the descentof said staff :withinsaidihandle.

2. A telescopic umbrella comprising a handle formed of sectionsslidable one within the other, a stall comprising telescopic is :tions slidable within said handle, cooperating means on oneof said staff sectionsand the inner handle section"forlatchingi'said stail' in the upper end of said handle section, means carried by the inner end of the other of said staff sections as ,releasing said latching means to permitdescent of said staii' within said handle, cooperating means positioned adjacent the outer ends of said iandle sections for-normallyjlatching said sections in telescopic relation, said cooper ating means being engageable by said staff upon its descent in said handle to release said telescopic handle sections and permit their extension about said staff upon further inward movement of the latter.

3. A telescopic umbrella rib comprising an inner channel section and an outer grooved section slida-ble relative thereto, a flexible cover supported by said rib, means. slidable along said grooved section'independently of the channel section to which said cover is attached, said means being displaceable toward the outer end of said grooved rib section by the engagement therewith of the end of the channel section in the course of thetelescopic movement of said sections. I v

4. In a telescoping umbrella, a hollow stafi' having slot-s therein, resilient members functioning with elements slidable along said staff, comprising fiat pieces each having a base engaging the wall of said staif on the same side as the slots and having the portion projecting through the slots, and. being formed with a back support engaging the wall on the opposite side of the staff, a tubular member having slots and reciprocablo within said stall, surrounding said resilient members, the walls of certain of said slots being arranged to. engage and depress the p jecting p rtions of certain of said resili- .ht members, said t'ubiilar member being fo r 'nedjon the side'oppositesaid slots with an'elongated slot flan mg the back supports of said resilient members to prevent lateral displacement thereof.

5,, In a telescoping umbrella, a hollow stalf having slots therein, resilient members functioning with elements slidable aleng said stall, comprising fiat pieces each having a. base enga'ging the wall of said st'afi' on the same side as the slots and having a portion projecting through the said slots, and being formed with aback su port engaging the opposite wall ofthe sta a tubular member having slots and reciprocable within said stafi, surrounding said resilient members, the walls of certain of said slots being arranged engage and depress the projecting portions of c'ertaihof said resilient members, said tubular'member'being formed on th'e'side apmnteisnd slots with an elongated slot 13 59551 6 back supports of said resilient me ber to prevent lateral displacement thereof and means for limiting thejreeiprb'eatdry movement of said tubular member. j

In a telescoping umbrella, a hollow staff having slots'therjein, resilient members functioning with elements slidable along said stall, comprising fiat pieces each having a base engagin the wall of said Staf on the same side as the sl'ot's and having a portion projectingthrough the slots on the same side, and being formed with a back support engaging the opposite wall of the staff, a tubular member having slots and reciprooable within said stall, surrounding said resilient members, the walls of certain of said slots being arranged to engage and depress the projecting portions of certain of said resilient members, said tubular member beforined on the side opposite said slots with an elongated s'lot flanking the back sup-' ports of said resilient members 'to revent lateral displacement thereof, means or limiting the reciprocatory movement of said tubular member, and operating means for said tubular member positioned exteriorly of the stafi of the umbrella.

7. In a telescoping umbrella, a hollow staff comprising telescoping sections having slots therein, a'spring stop projectable from said slot in one section over the edge of the other section to prevent telescoping of said sections when extended, a tubular key reciproo'ably arranged in one of said staff sections and projecting from one end thereof, said hey having an aperture throughwhich the latch proi'ectsand being manipulatable for releasing said spring stop to permit telescoping of said sections. 7 v

In a ti'ele'scoping umbrella, a hollow comprising telescoping sections one of i il e' 'tibi 's 1 mins asl in. he side th e of, ribs-therefor and: a runner for spreading nipulatable for simultaneously releasing said lllHlhSi Op and spring latch.

9. In a telescoping umbrella, a telescopic statl' comprising a hollow lower section and an upper section slidable therewithin, a case section, a staff loci: for locking the lower. end of said hollow stafi' section in the upper end of said case section, comprising the walls of a groove in said case section, spring arms carried by! said stafi and engageable with said walls, a wedge re-acting between said arms and the end of the staff for forcing said arms into said groove, resilient means for actuating said wedge and means on the lower end of the upper staff section engageable with said wedge against the tension of said resilient means for moving said wedge to release said arms,- permitting automatic retraction of the latter from said groove under axial pressure upon said stall.

10. In a telescoping umbrella, a telescopic staff comprising a hollow lower section and an upper section slid-able therewithin, a case section, a stall lock for locking the lower end of said hollow staff section in the upper end of said case section, comprising the walls of a groove in said case section, spring arms carried by said stafi' and engageable with said walls, a wedge having a portion of steep taper and a portion of gradual taper, the latter re-acting between said arms and the ends of said staff with relatively great pressure for forcing said arms into said groove, resilient means for actuating said wedge, means on the lower end of the upper staff section engageable with said wedge against the tension of said resilient means for moving said wedge to release said arms, permitting automatic retraction of the latter from said groove under axial pressure upon said staff, said wedge co-acting with means within the lower end of said inner case 'section for driving the portion of steep taper between said arms and staii, thereby urging said arms outwardly against the wall of said inner casesection with relatively light pressure. H p v 1 l I n a telescoping umbrella, a handle comprising inner and outer telescopic sections forming a casing, saidouter section being formed with an internal shoulder at its lower end, a catclt in the lower end of the inner section engageable with said-shoulderto lock said sections in telescop ed posi- SEST AVAlLABLE COP\ tion, a staff slidable into said handle and engage-able with said catch to release the latter permitting extension of the sections of said casing.

12. In a telescoping umbrella, a handle comprising innerand outer telescopic sections forming a casing, said outer casing being formed with an internal shoulder at its lower end, a catch in the lower end of the inner section comprising a pivoted spring member having a nose engageable with said shoulder, a spring normally urging said nose into the path traversed by said shoulder when the casing sections are telescoped, a staff slidable into said handle and engageable with a portion of said catch to release the latter against tension of said spring causing a withdrawal of said nose from the path of said shoulder to permit the extension of said casing.

13. In a telescoping umbrella, a hollow staff comprising telescoping upper and lower sections one of said sections having a slot formed therein, ribs secured to said upper section, a spring stop projectable from said slot in one section over the other section to prevent telescoping of said sections when extended, a tubular, apertured key reciprocably arranged in one of said staff sections and projecting from the upper end of the upper staff section, said key being depressible for releasing said spring stop to permit telescoping of said sections, and means on the projecting portion of said key engageable with said ribs when the umbrella is spread to prevent depression of said key.

14. A telescoping umbrella comprising telescoping staff sections and telescoping ribs secured thereto, a telescoping sectional casing for housing said staff sections and ribs, said casing being extensible to surround said staff sections and ribs when the latter are tclescoped. and being itself telescoped when said staff sections and ribs are extended, said several elements being constructed to perform co-ordinately their several functions aforesaid, by a simple rectilinear motion, and means for locking said staff sections in extended position. and means for locking said casing sections in collapsed position.

15. A telescopic umbrella comprising telescopic staff sections and telescopic rib sections, one of the latter being channelled,

said rib sections being adapted, in a closing is F position of the umbrella to lie substantially parallel to one another and to be telescoped by pressure axially of said staff, locking means automatically operative when said rib sections are moved away from the position of substantial parallelism with the staff, for locking said rib sections, against relative sliding movement, said means including a member having the locking end thereof lying continually within the channel of said channelled member throughout the range of relative travel of" said telescopic sections.

16. A telescopic umbrella comprising telescopic staff sections and telescopic rib sections. one of the latter being channelled,

vsaid rib sections being adapted, in a closing position of the umbrella to lie substantially parallel to one another and to be telescoped by pressure axially of said staff, locking ncans automatically operative when said rib sections are moved away from the position of substantial parallelism with the staff, for locking said rib sections against relative slid'ng movement, said means including a member having the locking end thereof lying continually within the channel of said channelled member throughout the range of relative travel of said telescopic sections, and means operable when said rib sections assume a position of parallelism to said staff to remove said locking means from looking position. i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES W. CHISM. 

